To run a hardware and devices troubleshooter

Make sure that the hardware device is compatible with your computer and with your version of Windows. If the device isn't compatible, you will need to find the correct driver. Check the information that came with your device. You can also search for the device on the Windows 7 Compatibility Center website. This website contains a comprehensive list of computers and devices that have been tested to work with Windows 7.

Many devices require special drivers to work properly. Be sure that you have installed any software discs that came with the device.

Restart the computer. Restarting might be necessary if the driver requires it, or if the driver didn't install correctly.

If the device is a universal serial bus (USB) device, disconnect it and then plug it in to a different USB port. Windows should detect the device and install the drivers, and notify you if the device drivers didn't install properly.

It's important to set Windows to download and install updates automatically. But even if you have Windows Update set to automatically install important updates for your computer, it still might not be set to install all the updated drivers it finds for your hardware. To automatically get available driver updates for your hardware, set Windows to install recommended updates.

Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button . In the search box, type Update, and then, in the list of results, click Windows Update.

In the left pane, click Change settings.

Under Important updates, click an item in the list.

You can decide which updates to automatically download and install.

Under Recommended updates, select the Give me recommended updates the same way I receive important updates check box, and then click OK. If you're prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

You can also allow anyone using your computer to install updates by selecting the Allow all users to install updates on this computer check box.

Note

You can set Windows to automatically install important and recommended updates or important updates only. Optional updates aren't downloaded or installed automatically. To get all available updates for your devices, periodically check Windows Update for optional updates.

Updated drivers might be available through Windows Update. When you check Windows Update, click View available updates to see if an updated driver is available for your device. For more information, see Install Windows updates in Windows 7.

If you can't find a new driver through Windows Update or the manufacturer's website, try reinstalling the software that came with the device, which might contain drivers.

Internet connection problems are most commonly caused by disconnected cables or by routers or modems that aren't operating properly. For information on how to fix these common problems, see Why can’t I connect to the Internet?

If hardware isn't working properly, you might need a new driver—whether you installed the device recently or have had it installed since you acquired your computer. Every device needs a driver that allows it to communicate with your computer. Sometimes drivers need to be updated. All your drivers must be compatible with this version of Windows.

In most cases, drivers come with Windows or can be found by going to Windows Update in Control Panel and checking for updates. If Windows doesn't have the driver you need, you can usually find it on the disc that came with the hardware or device you want to use, or on the manufacturer's website.

There are several things you can try if you have a device that is not working correctly:

Check if updated drivers are available through Windows Update. When you check Windows Update, click View available updates to determine if an updated driver is available for your device. For more information, see Install Windows updates.

Make sure that the hardware device is compatible with your computer and with your version of Windows. If the device is not compatible, you will need to find the correct driver. Check the information that came with your device. You can also search for the device on the Windows Vista Compatibility Center website. This website contains a comprehensive list of devices that have been tested to work with Windows Vista.

Many devices require special drivers to work properly. Be sure that you have installed any software discs that came with the device.

Restart the computer. Restarting might be necessary if the driver requires it or if the driver did not install correctly.

If the device is a universal serial bus (USB) device, disconnect it and then plug it in to a different USB port. Windows should detect the device and install the drivers, and will notify you if the device drivers did not install properly.

It’s important to set Windows to download and install updates automatically. But even if you have Windows Update set to automatically install important updates for your computer, it still might not be set to install all the updated drivers it finds for your hardware, since not all these are classified as important. To get all driver updates, you have to turn on recommended updates, too. If you follow these steps, you might never have to check for driver updates yourself or struggle to get a device to work.

To turn on automatic updating

Open Windows Update by clicking the Start button , clicking All Programs, and then clicking Windows Update.

In the left pane, click Change settings.

Click Install updates automatically (recommended).

Under Recommended updates, select the check box for Include recommended updates when downloading, installing, or notifying me about updates, and then click OK. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

To make sure you get the latest drivers for your hardware, set Windows to automatically download recommended updates

Updated drivers might be available through Windows Update. When you check Windows Update, click View available updates to see if an updated driver is available for your device. For more information, see Install Windows updates.

If you can't find a new driver through Windows Update or the manufacturer's website, find the disc that came with the device and place it in the computer's CD drive. With the disc in the CD drive, update the driver for the device. See Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly.

If you do not have a connection to the Internet, you might need to update your network adapter driver manually. If you have the disc that came with the device, place it in the CD drive and follow the steps to manually update the driver.

If you can't find the disc, try to connect to the Internet from another computer and download the device driver from the device manufacturer's website. Once you have the device driver files, copy them to the computer with a problem. Follow these steps to manually update the driver.

Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager.‌ If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

In Device Manager, locate the device under Network adapters, and then double-click the device name.

IP binding problems are typically caused by an out-of-date network adapter driver. To fix this problem, update the network adapter driver by following these steps:

Open Device Manager by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking Device Manager.‌ If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.